Acting
Mauri Huhkinen, a busy man in Tukkilahden, has taken on so many municipal positions of trust that he has three meetings in one evening and no time for his family. Everything changes when the residents of Tukkilahden hear about Mauri and his fellow trustees' rowdy night out at a restaurant in Helsinki.
Baron von Sumers, owner of the Tottisalmen estate, sends his mischievous grandson Klaus to learn manners at the vicarage in the neighboring parish. Yrjö, the vicarage's farmhand, has an accident because of Klaus and ends up in Tottisalmen for medical treatment. When Yrjö's resemblance to the baron's missing son is noticed, events from the past begin to unfold.
Lauri and Anna are released from prison. They run into trouble when they cannot find work because of their past. Lauri obtains false identity papers, which enable him to get a job at a factory. A dangerous criminal named Asseri begins blackmailing Lauri, who is using the alias "Pentti Tahvana." Lauri's true identity is revealed in connection with the murder of Kaalep, the factory's night watchman.
Yrjö Niemelä leaves the countryside for Helsinki. Unemployed, homeless, and penniless, the young man attempts suicide in despair, but a Salvation Army soldier comes to his rescue at the last moment. His luck changes when Yrjö gets a job in a warehouse and, as a fast runner, becomes a sports coach. His childhood sweetheart Elsa encourages him to succeed.
Katariina, an orphaned girl from the north, travels to Helsinki to live with her distant relative Mauri, who has been appointed her guardian. The unpretentious child of nature irritates, amuses, and charms Mauri, who is accustomed to high society, and his bachelor friends.
Olli, a schoolboy from the Suominen family, accidentally causes two accidents, which he does not dare to confess to his father Väinö. He runs away from home in Helsinki and tries to get to the Savijärvi clearing camp with his friend Jaska. The journey, which began joyfully, turns into a nightmare when the boys, who have run into trouble, have to flee from the law and Olli's lively little sister Pipsa.
Pharmacy student Aina Zinck and doctor Yrjö Kallio are a young couple who are drawn into patterns of jealousy in their small Finnish town.
Aarne marries Martta because his mother tells him it is his duty as the eldest son to marry a wealthy girl. However, the attractive school teacher Ilona arrives in the village and causes complications when Aarne falls in love with her.
Young farmer Paavo's wife dies in childbirth, and their baby soon after. The wife's family claim back the dowry she brought to their marriage, but Paavo has already used most of it for improvements at the farm. Paavo's life starts going downhill as he resorts to drinking.
Pipsa catches the theater bug. The schoolgirl becomes obsessed with acting, which causes suffering for the whole family. Pipsa's brother Olli arranges performances for his sister and collects money for a poor war widow.
A romantic comedy about a writer coming back to Finland is bored with the High Society life and starts a modeling job for a young and beautiful painter Ilona. Dressed as a vagabond, he soon starts to please Ilona and her many lady friends as shows quick learning skills and soon shows great knowledge of history, art, and literature.
Olli Suominen fancies his teacher and other shenanigans.
Liisa and the renowned composer Raimo Kaarna are fond of each other, but in Kaarna's family history, everyone does not accept the relationship. In addition, Liisa has her own doubts, and a secret that does not endure the daylight.
The Finnish coast guard battles the bootleggers who smuggle booze across the Gulf of Finland during the prohibition law.
A romantic story about a rich girl, who is not used to household work, charms many men while working in the "Haukka" manor. The reason for this undercover work is a bet. Despite being a bad cook she soon becomes attracted to engineer Karma.
Heavily indebted Commissioner Birger seeks to marry the wealthy Helena. The young lady rejects his advances and longs for her childhood friend Kuismaa. Birger's jealous mistress Verotshka complicates the relationship dynamics while helping the Finns and Ingrians in their struggle for independence.
Corporal Möttönen is an incomparable humorist whose easygoing banter brings a pleasant atmosphere to the unit. The smooth-talking man from Savo is assigned to the entertainment troops at the front.
Set in turn of the century Helsinki, author Arvo Helavalla's novel makes an indelible impression on adolescent Auli Ranta. She idolizes the author of a work that can never be forgotten.
In his will, Assessor Walter Timelius acknowledges that he is the father of his former housekeeper Iida's child. The assessor's sister Agda does not accept her brother's illegitimate daughter Marja Kauria into the family. The jealous aunt is shocked when cousins Hans Timelius and Marja, who are studying together, fall in love with each other.
Engineering student Petteri and retired captain Jere Renkonen arrive in Terijoki as guests of architect Matti Marras at the villa he has rented. In the midst of everything, the owner of the villa, Russian émigré prince Asatiánts, arrives with his niece Darja. Petteri eavesdrops and learns that the prince is expecting a "man from Marseille" at the villa. This man is supposed to take a secret document hidden in a large cabinet in the hall across the border to Moscow, containing information about the hiding place of the prince's family jewels.
